What a start to the Hereford sale calendar at Tullamore with a top price of €5,000 and a sale average of €3,150.

Regular and successful exhibitors at Tullamore the father and son team of Tom and Anselm Fitzgerald, Mount Temple swept the boards with a total payday of €9,000 to average €4,500 each for their two exhibits.

Their first prizewinner Grianan Showgun by Grianan Parker sold to Hereford, Angus and dairy farmer Pat Cahill, Co Cavan at €5,000 while their first prizewinner and Reserve Champion Grianan Showman again by Parker sold to A Byrne, Co Kildare at €4,000. It was a sweet day out for the partnership.Grianan Showgun Sold at €5,000

Grianan Showman – Reserve Champion – Sold at €4,000

Well known Freshford, Co Kilkenny breeder Tom Brennan was quietly pleased with a final bid of €4,000 for his Balleen Harrison sired by herd sire Gurteragh Maximus having topped the Hereford section at Kilkenny just ten days ago with €3,700 for a 1st prizewinning bull there. A further bull sold at home on the evening of the sale to a Co Laois Hereford breeder made for a decent payday at Balleen.

Balleen Harrison – Sold at €4,000

The day’s Champion Hugh Murray’s Shiloh-Farm Emperor a July 2017 born bull by Steil Gerard weighing in at 1,000 Kgs sold to a new home in Birr, Co Offaly at €3,750.

Shiloh-Farm Emperor – Sold at €3,750

Michael O’Keeffe travelling all the way from Gurteragh, Newmarket exhibited Gurteragh Aristocrat 758 ET by Gurteragh Oakley 652. A second prizewinner he sold at €3,700.

Gurteragh Aristocrat 758 ET – Sold at €3,700

The youngest bull exhibited Moyclare Royal was shown by local man Michael Molloy, Belmont. By his new herd sire Free Town Nadal this yearling sold to Niall Greene, Co Kilkenny at €3,600

Moyclare Royal – Sold at €3,600

A full polled Hereford bull Corlismorepoll 1 Lad 925 exhibited by the well-known and successful Cavan breeder Sean McKiernan sired by Corlismorepoll 1 Hustler G 797 sold to Co Wexford at €3,300

Corlismorepoll 1 Lad 925 – Sold at €3,300

His purchaser also bought Mary Farrell’s Boyanna Aengus a Cavehill Storm son at €3,000.

Boyanna Aengus – Sold at €3,000

Other bulls to sell at €3,000 included JJ Farrell’s Trillick Joe to Northern Ireland and Padraig Farrell’s Cavehill Sam ET to Co Westmeath.

Cavehill Sam ET – Sold at €3,000

Current Hereford calf prices which are bringing an extra €120 to €150 per head over straight dairy crosses and €60 to €80 per head over others are seen as major drivers in demand. Hereford cross progeny can give an extra 50 to 60 Kgs extra at slaughter gaining an appreciable premium through the Certified Hereford Beef programs.

Sale in progress

A sincere thank you and best wishes is extended to all purchasers of Hereford stock.

Photos by Patricia Kennedy